Deadman's Blood (35 page)

“So there was no wife or family? You chose to be alone so that I could have a normal life?”

“Yes,” he said nervously.

“Do you still feel that way? I mean, my life has not been exactly normal up to this point; I’m not really sure what normal is or that I ever wanted it.”

“What are you saying, Kat?”

“I’m saying that if I wanted normal, I wouldn’t have dated you in the first place. There is nothing remotely normal about you. I knew that then and now I know why, but the question still stands…Do you still feel that way?”

“What? That I’d like you to have a normal life? Sure. I’d like to see you have a wonderful, thriving life.”

“But without you? Right?”

“I’m not sure I know what you are saying, Kat. You know I’ll be there whenever you need or want anything.”

“What I’m saying, Niky, is…I never stopped loving you. Not for one moment. I thought you were an angel when you came to the hospital and got me out of there. I had been dreaming you’d come back for me forever it seems.”

“You remember when I came to get you out?” Dominic said slightly embarrassed.

“I do. Every word. Every tear. Every kiss. Every promise,” Katarina smiled.

“I….I didn’t think you would remember with…all the drugs they had you on, it was horrible to see you that way.”

“I’ll admit some of it was blurry in my mind, maybe even distorted, but it was like a dream come true - you rescuing me after all that time. You told me you had always loved me and that not a minute or day had gone by when you didn’t wonder where or what I was doing.

“But despite what you said, I want to know if you still feel that I should have a normal life without you. Or could you stand an abnormal life with me? That is, unless there’s someone else.”

“Someone else? No. There’s been no one since you, Kat. I just feel it would be selfish of me to immerse you into a vampire world. Your life could be so much better.”

“Yeah, because the last 30 years I’ve been sitting in a hospital doped up, I was having such a super life. You never gave me the opportunity to fight for this relationship when you left, but if you feel the way I do, I think we owe it to ourselves to try. Don’t you?”

“Kat, if you remember what I said to you when I took you out of the hospital, then you know how I feel about you, but I have a vampire son, and two vampire nephews practically married to two witch sisters, one of which turns into a werewolf once a month. Presently, I have a gypsy and a shapeshifter living in the cottage on the grounds, another werewolf and witch visiting, along with our psychic son and his girlfriend who is psychometric. Add in a prophecy that seems to be coming true about our family, and an unknown enemy posing as a friend, trying to kill my family. Inviting you into my life right now would be like signing your death warrant.”

“Maybe, maybe not. The question is, would you like me to be there, at your side, I mean?”

“Truthfully?”

“Truthfully and selfishness aside,” Katarina said.

He ran his hands down his face and then rubbed his neck hard trying to release the tension that was building there. “Truthfully, Kat, I need you like no one has ever needed anyone ever before, but it’s…”

“It is too that simple. Besides, it sounds like you have a house full of people to protect me from whatever danger lingers out there in the world.”

“How did you know what I was going to say?”

“Intuition, I suppose.”

“I really can’t expose you to all the violence going on right now. I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep you from danger,” Dominic said.

“Don’t you think if someone is out to get you, I’d be safer with you than away from you?” she stated.

“I suppose. Is there talk of your release yet?” he asked.

“Yes. This meeting was really my last bridge to cross, according to the doctor. I’m sure you could get a better prognosis from the doctor, but they seem quite pleased with my progress.”

“Good. But don’t say I didn’t warn you, Kat, and if you change your mind, do it now instead of later. I don’t think I can give you up as gracefully as I did thirty years ago.”

“Oh, you aren’t getting rid of me that easily, Niky. Not this time.”

“Fine. I’ll talk to the doctors and get back to you,” Dominic said as he rose. She followed in suit.

He pulled her close to him, something he had dreamt about for nearly thirty years, and held her there as the knot in his stomach finally untied itself and all felt right for those few seconds. She looked up at him and said, “Niky? Thank you for finding me and rescuing me from that place.”

With his right hand at the nape of her neck and his left brushing a few random strands of hair from her face, he said, “My pleasure, Kat,” in his deepest, most sultry voice. She could see herself in his warm brown eyes and he bowed his head to meet her with a long, sweetly tender kiss. Katarina’s knees grew rubbery as they always had before when Dominic kissed her. Thirty years hadn’t changed a thing between them aside from having a son.

“Keep me apprised of when you will be discharged and I will make all the arrangements necessary.”

“I will,” Katarina said with a longing smile.

Before he left the room he turned back and said, “Be careful. Be suspicious of anyone new and don’t hesitate to call if your intuition sparks you.”

“I will. And Dominic?” she said.

“Yes?”

“I love you,” she said.

He smiled from ear to ear and said, ”I love you too, Kat.”

After dinner that evening, Dominic sat in the study contemplating his visit with Katarina, wearing a smile he hadn’t been aware he was donning. A knock at the door of the study revealed two brothers with smirks on their faces who were curious about their father’s new Cheshire-cat look.

Closing the door behind him, Anton said, “So Dad…we were curious…how did things go with Katarina today?” Anton exchanged a look with a smiling Josh and then they both focused on Dominic with that ‘Inquiring minds want to know’ look.

“Ganging up on me, I see,” Dominic chuckled. “Well, if you must know, things went exceptionally well.”

“Do tell,” Anton said.

“A gentleman never discloses such information about a lady,” Dominic teased.

“You did just go to the clinic, Dad, not a hotel,” Anton injected. Josh glanced at him with surprise but focused back on Dominic for the details.

“Very funny boys,” Dominic volleyed.

“Seriously, Dominic, what did she want? How’s she doing with the whole vampire thing? Did you guys patch things up?” Josh rattled off.

“Whoa, whoa, there Josh. One question at a time. She said that she had gotten a lot of her memory back from before she had been admitted to the hospital. She asked what my feelings were for her. She seems fine with the vampire thing. Since that is why I called things off the first time, she asked if now that she knows about it if we could, you know, move forward.”

“And…what did you say?” Josh and Anton asked in stereo.

“Well, I discouraged it.”

“What? Why?” Anton said, looking a little pale and sitting down suddenly.

“Are you all right, Anton?”

“Yeah. I’m fine…why would you discourage her? Isn’t a relationship what you would like to have?”

“Well…yes. Very much so, but I hadn’t really talked to either of you about how you both might feel about that, and plus with all that is going on, I feel like I would be putting her in danger.”

“Maybe, but wouldn’t you be able to protect her more easily if she was close at hand?” Josh argued.

“Funny you should say that, as that was what she said,” Dominic chuckled then glanced at Anton to make sure he was indeed okay.

“Well, after all, we are related,” Josh pointed out.

“Indeed. And since you both have broadsided me with this conversation, how do you feel about all this, Josh?” Dominic asked.

“Me?”

“Yes. It’s important to me that you’re okay with Katarina and I having a relationship. I mean, you just lost your parents and you just found about us. You were pretty standoffish about meeting Katarina when it was first discussed.”

“And you both just found out about me - seems we’re both in the same boat. As for Katarina, my mom and I talked about her before they…” Josh paused for a moment then continued, “Mom wanted to go with me to meet her. She was excited about meeting Katarina and now that I know that Katarina didn’t really have much choice in what happened to her, I’m kind of looking forward to meeting her. Not that my parents could ever be replaced, but to some extent I feel like my parents were somewhat handing off their torches to you and Katarina before they died. You don’t think they somehow knew what the future would bring, do you?”

“Maybe, maybe not, Josh, but they had an amazing sense of family and I felt welcomed into their family wholeheartedly. I got the sense that they wanted us all to be involved in your life. I just wish Katarina could have met them; I know she would have loved them for how wonderful they were and how much they loved you.”

“So…does that mean that Katarina will be joining us soon?” Anton interrupted.

“With yours and Josh’s approval, yes,” Dominic said.

“When?” Josh asked.

“Well, very soon, I would expect. Probably within a few days. The doctors are just going through all the paperwork now, crossing the t’s and dotting the I’s, so to speak.”

“That’s great, Dad, Josh. I’m looking forward to meeting her,” Anton said, looking a bit green now.

“Are you sure you’re all right, Anton?” Josh and Dominic both asked.

“You know, I’m not feeling super; is it okay if I head up to bed? I think I’m just tired.”

“Are you sure that’s all?” said Josh. “I mean, Blake and Devon are both in the hospital, maybe you’ve been…”

“Don’t be silly. I’m fine. I’m just tired. I’ll see you both in the morning,” he said as he headed out of the room. “Oh and Dad?” he said, looking over his shoulder, “Congratulations! I’m glad to see you so happy.”

“Thanks, Anton,” Dominic said proudly.

“Well, I think I will head to bed too,” Josh said.

“Sleep well, Josh,” Dominic said.

“Thanks. You too,” Josh replied. “Oh and Dominic?”

“Yes?”

“I think it’s really cool that after all these years you and Katarina still feel so intensely for each other. Makes me think that if things had been different, we might have been a really happy family.”

“I’d like to think so, but either way, we might still have a pretty happy future together, all of us,” Dominic noted.

“Yeah. My parents would have liked that. I’m really glad you talked me into having them come here. Despite what happened, I think they really enjoyed meeting you. I’ve never seen my dad so talkative with anyone like he was with you. They both had great things to say about you and told me how lucky I was to have two sets of loving parents.”

“Thanks, Josh. It means a lot to me that they felt that way about me. I really liked them too. Now go get some sleep and I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Right. Night!”

“Goodnight,” Dominic said.

*****

After Josh shut the study door, the phone rang. Dominic picked up the receiver and pushed the ‘talk’ button. “Hello?”

“Dominic? It’s Sally. Sally Keaton in California?”

“Of course, sweet girl, I knew who you were without your last name or location. Don’t you think we’ve spent enough time together to know one another?” Dominic said, chuckling.

“Well…I guess. It’s just we’re not family and well, I’ve never called you before.”

“Sally, as far as I am concerned, you have fought and been there for this family; I consider you family.”

“Well, thank you…that really means a lot to me,” Sally said rather taken aback.

“How is Dean doing with all those emotions?”

“Ugggh! Don’t get me started. But actually, with everyone on the east coast and not as many people around, he’s better. Even with people around, he does seem to be getting a handle on controlling it, but I think it’s hard on him. He’s never been a super emotional guy and now he’s got more emotion than he knows what to do with.”

“I can imagine. I’m sure he’ll be in control of them soon. It’s a lot to take in. Speaking of the east coast, when are you two coming?”

“In another day or two. Dean and I are clearing up some minor issues with the contractor that’s taking over while we are gone and with the insurance company. I expect we will be heading out there by Friday.”

“Good. We miss not having you here.”

“Thanks, that’s sweet.”

“So is everything okay there?”

“Well…that’s really why I called.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. Remember how I told you when we were all starting to notice our new powers, that I had seen your sister and wife wandering around the house?”

“Yes.”

“Well, when I was in Connecticut, they could actually speak to me. I didn’t always understand what they were talking about, but at least I could hear them.”